Wood-pulp production and refining



. 9, 1930. A. BRAUN WOOD PULP PRODUCTION AND REFINING Filed Feb. 5. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

v "inns PLBraun.

A--WATTORNEYS.

Dec. 9, 1930. L. A. BRAUN 1,184 039 WOOD PULP PRODUCTION AND REFINING Filed Feb. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. I Linus A. BPBUTL ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES LINUS BBAUN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, KINNESOTA WOOD-PULP PRODUCTION DEFINING Application filed February 5, 1889. Serial No. 887,685.-

This invention relates to improvements in means and methods for producing and refining fibrous pulp for pa er making.

The primary object this invention is 6 the provision of an improved pulp making machine by means of which wood and other appropriate material may be readily reduced to pulp and properly refined and treated, to provide properly strengthened fiber pulp 10 which may be economically used for the manufacture of paper, building board, and insulating or other materials.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved means'for reducmg raw materials, such as wood, to pulp, in an economical manner, by grinding the raw material upon a suitable perforated or roughened surface in such a manner as to break down and separate the fibers of the raw material and reduce them to a pulp form. The im roved means may also be used for the re ning of paper pulp to further strengthen the fibers thereof.

A further object of this invention is'the provision of an improved machine for reducing fibrous pulp, by grinding the ulp, or in factthe raw material, if desired, tween relatively moving bodies, one of which, at least, has an abrasive surface, preferably perforated and provided with cutting proections, such as found in expanded metal, in order to reduce the coarse fibers and strengthen the fibrous pulp to a suitable condition by r'ufling and combing the fibrous pulp through bearing and tearing actions, so as to increase the freeness and pop test of the same. i

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved means for reducing and refining wood fiber, in connection with the manufacture of paper, which consists in the provision of a screen wherein the fibrous stock is received and retained until it is sufficiently reduced that it will pass through the perforations of the screen; the said screen being free of openings through which unre-. duced and unrefined stock may pass; means being provided in the screen to accelerate and insure reduction and refining of fibers to the point that they may pass through the screen perforations.

Other ob'ects and advantages of this i11 vention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this s cification, and wherein similar reference chiiracters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view so taken through the improved machine for produ'cing refining and strengthening fibrous materials.

Figure 2 is an end view of the machine, at thereceiving end thereof.

. Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1 of the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred em- 7 'bodiment of this invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved machine, w ich may comprise a section B wherein the pulp or raw material is initiall treated by grinding, cutting, and tearing t e same to a fibrous condition, after which the pulp is treated in a section C ,of the machine A for beating, refining, andcentrifugally straining the pulp.

The sections B and C of the machine A are provided with a common shaft D, which extends axially through the housings E and F of the machmeparts B and C respectively.

In the section B, the housing E receives means K, in the nature of an abrasive or perforated body, preferably heavy expanded metal, case hardened, which cooperates with the crushing and hammering means L for tearing, cutting, and strip ing the fibers from raw material or from pu pjto further refine the same.

The pulp is delivered from the section B of the machine A into a chamber of screen means P of the section 0, and therein beater means M'operates thereon for centrifugally throwing and distributin the ulp against screen means P, thru w ich t e desirable fibers, in ulp condition, are passed into the housin The iousing E is preferably of cylindrical flanged and bolted together as at 16. At its smaller end it provides a wall 17 forming a bearing for one end of the shaft D said wall 17 having anti-friction bearings 19 therein for receiving the end of the shaft. The frusto-conical bodv 10 is hollow, pro-- viding a frusto-conical' shaped chamber 20,

- and at the larger end, the frusto-conical body 10 is flanged at 21 and bolted at 22 to the end flange 23 of the hollow cylindrical shaped housing E. The housing E and the body of the entrance end structure R, are provided with supporting legs or brackets 25 and 26 respectively, which support the machine sections on a platform or floor surface. The upper part 11 of the entrance end body 10 is provided with an inlet conduit or connection 30, thru which the pulp or raw material is fed into the chamber 20 and thence flows or is forced into the chamber of the housing B, for reduction upon the cutting surface K by the rotary means L. The body 10 may be provided with suitable inlet connections 33, to which conduits may be connected for delivering streams of water or other fluid into the mass of raw material or pulp which is entering the machine, to force the latter along the housing E.

The housing E is preferably of uniform diameter and disposed with the horizontal shaft .D axially therethrough. This housing is divided along its length, and at its end remote from the inlet end of the machine it is provided with a flange 34 adapted to be bolted as at 35, shown in Figure 3, to a similar flange 36 provided on the inlet end of the housing F. If found suitable the housing may be made of one piece, or of any approved construction.

Within the housing E is disposed the means K, preferably in the nature of a screen in abutment with the interior peripheral surfaces of the said housing, provided with means thereon to cut, tear, and comb the fibers of the wood, or other raw material to a reduced separated condition. This means K is preferably a sheet of expanded metal, relatively heavy and case hardened; the raised portions of which are preferably arranged diagonal to the axis of the housin so as to permit the rotary hammer means to strip the fibers of the material entering the machine by means of a cutting and tearing action between the screen and the rotary means.

meaoee The primary essential is that the interior surface shall be provided with a roughened, abrasive, or cutting surface, and which is found to be most economically provided by disposing expanded metal within the housmg.

The shaft D extends axially through the housing E and is supported at the entrance end of the machine 'A on the bearing 19, and at its opposite end it is supported in a suitable bearing 40 to be subsequently described.

The rotary means L which acts to move the mass of material is the machine with a shearing action across the abrasive expanded metal surfaces, preferably comprises a plurality of spaced discs 41 keyed or shrunk or otherwise connected as at 42 upon the shaft.

These discs are centrally disposed upon the shaft and in preferably uniform spaced relation. In the spaces between the discs. 41, near the marginal portions of said discs, are

disposed pivoted macerating elements or hammers 44, which are preferably of heavy metal, and may be rectangular in formation. The hammers 44 are connected in longitudinal series in the spaces between the discs 41; preferably four of such series being provided, 90 apart about the discs 41, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Each series of said hammers 44 is held in position, preferably, by a common pivot pin or pintle 46, which is threaded thru suitable openings in the discs 41, and at the ends said pins 46 are detachably held upon the discs by cotter pins 48 or the like. The hammers 44, as before mentioned, are elongated, and preferably rectangular in form, and each is pivoted closer to one end thereof than the other end, so that by centrifugal action, during the rotation of the rotary means L; the heavier ends of the hammers 4-4 will be swung towards the perforated screening or expanded metal K. to act on the mass of material or pulp and hit it with considerable force in a shearing relation a ainst the cutting portions of the screen so as to strip or reduce the fibers, which are of course washed from the perforations of the-screen by the liquid entering the machine to cause the pulp mass to travel into the forward end of the machine where the pulp mass is beaten and pressed through a screen.

The housin -F is horizontally aligned and connected wit the housing E, and comprises a divided cylindrical body portion 50 which may be of the same size as the cylindrical housing E. The shaft D extends axially throu the housing F, andat the delivery end 0 the machine is en ported in the bearing 40 above mentioned: and to be subsequently described.

The cylindrical shaped screen P is con centrically supported in the housing F in spaced relation with the inner perl heral surfaces of the latter, by means of su stantially Z-shaped brackets or rails 54, best shown in Figure 5, which are detachably bolted to the housing F and the screen P.

The pulp fibers are adapted to enter the screen P from the housing E, and be pressed through the perforations of the screen into the annular compartment 55 between the screen P and the housing F, from whence they may pass by gravity flow, or'otherwise if found necessary, into the delive end of the machine. The entrance end of t e cylindrical screen P is open, and the housing F is provided witha sloping guide flange 55 which flares from the connecting locatlon of the housings E and F, in a conver ent relation to the facing edge or end of t e screen, where it slidably abuts said end of the screen, for the purpose of guiding the ulp from the housing E into the screen without direct admission to the compartment 55.

The screen P at the delivery end of themachine is provided with an end wall 57 in the form of a disc, resting on the shaft D, and held-in placeby collar 58 keyed to the shaft. This wall 57 may or may not be perforated.

Within thecylindrical shaped screen P, there is disposed a paddle-like beater M, comprising a plurality of Ion itudinally extending paddle blades 58, w ich are connected with the shaft D b means of referably radial arms 59. hree sets 0 the arms 59 are provided, as shown in Figure 1, and each of the blades 58 is disposed for substantially thelength of the compartment within the screen P. The arms 59 are pro vided with slots 60 at the outer ends thereof, shown in Figure 1, which receive connecting bolts 61 by means of which the blades 58 may be ad ustably connected to their respective supporting arms 59, for adjustment at various distances with respect to the inner periphery of the perforated screen P. It is quite obvious that this adjustment is im-. portant, since the beater should conform to the characteristic of the particular pulp beingareated.

ithin the area of the flared entrance of the housing F, there is disposed an imperforate disc-like baflle 65, which is keyed to the shaft D for rotation therewith. This baflle 65 i sspaced at its peripheral edges with respect to the flared surfaces of the flange 55, so that the pul flow is directed from the housing E into t e screen P in an annular path at a location where it can be eflectivel operated u on by the blades of the paddle-1i e beater 1, and centrifugally treated in an eflicient manner, without liability of too much pulp entering the screen P for treatment along the axis of the shaft.

The delive end of the machine referably comprises a ivided frusto-conica shell 80, havin an annular flange connection at 81 06 with e delivery end of the housing F. The

shell rovides a tapered compartment 82, within w ich the pul flows as it is strained or forced through the perforated cylinder screen P, and therefrom exits through a bottom outlet conduit 84 of any approved nature. The shell 80 is supported bya standard 85, and an end wall 86 of the shell supports the bearing 40 therein, wherein the shaft D rotates.

The operation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing. The wood chips or other material, or even pre-treated pulp may be fed into the entrance end of the ma chine for treatment. It is first broken up. by means of the rapidly revolving hammers centrifugally forcing and shearing the pulp or raw material against the projecting cutting portions of the expandedmetal, if the latter is used, tearin combing, and reducing the material to a fi rous pulp. The stock is then carried into the cyllndrical screen, by the force of the liquids introduced with the stock, and retained in this screen until beaten and operated upon by centrifugal force to further reduce the same to a characteristically fine condition, in order to permit it to pass through the perforations. This operation greatly strengthens the fibers as to freeness and pop tests.

Various changes in the steps of the method, and in'the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the sco e of the claims. 8

claim: 1. In a pulp reduci machine the combination of a container? substantially cylindrical formation having an inner pulp shearing and cutting surface, hammer means operating in spaced relation with said cutting surface for urging pulp and fibrous material in a shearing relation against the cutting surface, means to feed raw material or pulp into said container, means to supply a liquid in a longitudinally flowing relation to said container for carrying the pul therealong, a

screening container into whic the pulp flows from the first mentioned container, and means operating in the screen container for centrifugally urging the pulp through the perforations of the screen container.

2. In a fiber producing or refining'machine in which the fibers are directly, acted upon,

the combination of means for reducing fibrous material including a rotary substantially cylindrical shaped container of expanded metal rovided with an innerperipheral shearing ace against which the fibrous material is roughened, combed, and torn to a reduced con ition, said container being horizontally disposed, means for feeding the fibrous materlal into one end of the container, and baflie means at the other end of the container to retard the flow of stock therefrom.

3. In a fiber roducing or refining machine in which the fi hers are directly acted upon, the combination of means for reducing fibrous material including a rotary substantially cylindrical shaped container of expanded metal provided with an inner per ripheral shearing face against which the fibrous material is roughened, combed, and torn toa reduced condition, said container being horizontally disposed, means for feeding the fibrous material into one end of the container, and baflle means at the other end of the container to retard the flow of stock therefrom, said bafiie means comprising a disc disposed in the container to provide an annular escape opening thereabout from the container.

4. In a fiber producing and refining machine in which the fibers are directly acted upon, the combination of a cylindrical shaped container having an internal cutting face whereon fibrous material may be rotated en masse for reducing the same, a screening container, bafile means between said containers for retarding the flow of stock from the first to the latter, and means acting in the last mentioned container for reducing fibrous pulp to a strengthened condition by ruifing,

combing and tearing the fibrous material against the screen until the-reduced fibrous material is passed through the perforations of the screen.

5. In a pulp reducing machine the combinationof an elongated housing havin an entrance at one end and a deliver at t e other end, means in the housing ad acent the entrance for reducing fibrous material to a fibrous pulp, and means to receive the fibrous pulp from thelast mentioned means and pressure screen the same.

6. In apulp reducing machine the combination of a horizontally elongated housing, rotary pulp reducing means at one end of the housing, means to deliver fibrous material to said rotary reducing means for reducin fibrous material to a pulpy condition an means in the housing cooperating with the last mentioned means for screening the pulp prior to discharge from the housing.

7. In a pulp reducing machine the com- 1 bination of a horizontally elongated housing, rotarypulp reducing means at one end of the housing, means to deliver fibrous material to said rotary reducing means for reducing fibrous material to a pulpy condition, means in the housing cooperating with the last mentioned means for. screening the pulp prior to discharge from the housing, and means between the first and second above mentioned means to retard the flow of pulp into the last mentioned means.

- LINUS A. BRAUN. 

